Panel sliding hardware system and method

ABSTRACT

A display case panel mounting system includes a mounting bracket, sliding panel mount, and a slider. The sliding panel mount may include a first slide profile and a second slide profile. The mounting bracket may be capable of connecting to a display case and the slider may connect to the mounting bracket and the first slide profile to facilitate rotational movement of the sliding panel mount. The second slide profile may engage the first slide profile to facilitate linear movement of the second slide profile with respect to the first slide profile. A panel clamp may connect to the second slide profile to receive a panel for the display case to facilitate rotational movement and linear movement of the panel and various orientations of the panel.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application is a non-provisional of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/639,667, filed Apr. 27, 2012, entitled “PANEL SLIDING HARDWARE SYSTEM”, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

This disclosure relates generally to enclosures, and more particularly, to systems for opening and closing panels of enclosures.

BACKGROUND

Display enclosures typically have one or more plates through which items in the enclosures can be viewed. In some cases, the plates may be adjusted or moved to access the interior of the enclosures. In such cases, the plates may be connected to a link system that allows for adjustment of the plate to one side of the enclosure or otherwise generally away from a side of the enclosure to be covered by the plate.

SUMMARY

This disclosure relates generally to enclosures, and more particularly, to systems for opening and closing panels of enclosures. In one illustrative instance, a panel sliding hardware system for use with a display case may include a mounting bracket, a first slide profile, a second slide profile and a slider, where the first slide profile is capable of rotating with respect to the mounting bracket and the second slide profile is capable of rotating with respect to the mounting bracket and linearly adjusting with respect to the mounting bracket. In some instances, the mounting bracket may connect to the display case and a first end portion of the first slide profile may connect to the mounting bracket. The slider may connect to the mounting bracket and the second end portion of the first slide profile to facilitate rotation of the first slide profile and the second slide profile with respect to the mounting bracket. To facilitate linearly adjusting the second slide profile with respect to the mounting bracket, the second slide profile may engage the first slide profile.

In another illustrative instance, a display case mounting system may include a mounting bracket, a first slide profile, a second slide profile and a slider, where connecting features of the first slide profile may engage connecting features of the second slide profile. In some instances, the mounting bracket may connect to the display case and the first slide profile may be adjustably connected to the mounting bracket. Illustratively, the slider may have a first end engaging the mounting bracket and a second end connected to the second end portion of the second slide profile.

In some instances, a method may be used to position a panel used with a display case between a closed position and an opened position. The method may include adjusting the panel about a rotating axis formed at a connection point between a hinge and a sliding panel mount connected to the panel. In some instances, the method may further include sliding the panel in a linear direction away from the rotating axis. Illustratively, the sliding panel mount may include a first slide profile and a second slide profile, where adjusting the panel about the rotating axis may include adjusting the first slide profile and the second slide profile about the rotation axis and the sliding the panel in a linear direction may include sliding the second slide profile in a linear direction with respect to the first slide profile.

The preceding summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the features of the present disclosure and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the disclosure can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an illustrative mounting system with a display case and panel;

FIGS. 2A-2C are schematic top views of an illustrative mounting system with a display case, where the Figures depict the illustrative mounting system in a first position, in a second position, and in a third position;

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the illustrative mounting system with a display case and panel of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic top views of an illustrative mounting system with a display case, where the Figures depict the illustrative mounting system in different orientations;

FIG. 5 is a schematic end view of an illustrative mounting system with a panel, where the illustrative mounting system is mounted on a display case;

FIG. 6 is a schematic end view of an illustrative mounting system with a panel, where the illustrative mounting system is in a closed position and is mounted on a display case;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective end view of an illustrative mounting system with a panel, where the illustrative mounting system is in an opened position and is mounted on a display case;

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective end view of an illustrative mounting system with a panel, where the illustrative mounting system is in an opened position and is mounted on a display case;

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an illustrative mounting system showing a connector connecting a bearing to a slide rail of a slide profile;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic end views of illustrative panel clamps, illustrative panel wedges, and illustrative slide profiles of an illustrative mounting system, where the illustrative mounting system has a received panel;

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of an illustrative mounting system showing an illustrative stop mechanism;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are schematic perspective views of the illustrative mounting system, where illustrative stop mechanisms are in different orientations;

FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective exploded view of an illustrative first slide profile and an illustrative second slide profile;

FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective front view of an illustrative mounting bracket connected to a display case;

FIG. 15 is a schematic flow diagram of an illustrative method of positioning a panel using an illustrative mounting system; and

FIGS. 16A-16C are views of prior art link systems with plates for display cases.

While the disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit aspects of the claimed disclosure to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed disclosure.

DESCRIPTION

For the following defined terms, these definitions shall be applied, unless a different definition is given in the claims or elsewhere in this specification.

All numeric values are herein assumed to be modified by the term “about”, whether or not explicitly indicated. The term “about” generally refers to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited value (i.e., having the same function or result).

In many instances, the term “about” may be indicative as including numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure.

The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers within that range (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, and 5).

Although some suitable dimensions, ranges and/or values pertaining to various components, features and/or specifications are disclosed, one of skill in the art, incited by the present disclosure, would understand desired dimensions, ranges and/or values may deviate from those expressly disclosed.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

The following detailed description should be read with reference to the drawings in which similar elements in different drawings are numbered the same. The detailed description and the drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict illustrative embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed disclosure. The illustrative embodiments depicted are intended only as exemplary. Selected features of any illustrative embodiment may be incorporated into an additional embodiment unless clearly stated to the contrary.

Typical links 210 of known display case panel hardware systems 200 may move a panel 220 about one or more pivot points to create an access space for accessing an interior of a display case. As shown in FIGS. 16A-1C, with known hardware systems 200 the panel 220 may be moved from a closed position (FIG. 16A) to a perpendicular position (FIG. 16B) and from the perpendicular position to an open position (FIG. 16C). If it is desired to have an access opening to a display case that is about two-thirds the size of a typical forty-eight inch panel 220, one or more links 210 needs to be at least approximately sixteen inches in length to move an end of the panel two-thirds of its width from a closed position to an open position. As a result, when the panel 220 is in a generally perpendicular position (FIG. 15B) between the closed position (FIG. 16A) and the open position (FIG. 16C), the panel 220 is a maximum distance from the display case (e.g., a distance approximately equal to a length (e.g., sixteen inches) of one or more links 210 of the display case panel hardware systems 200). The farther the panel 220 is away from the display case, the more susceptible the display case panel hardware systems 210 are to forces from or acting on the panel 220 therein damaging the structure of the display case panel hardware systems 200 and/or the display case.

In some instances, typical display case panel hardware systems can generate a moment arm that is generally perpendicular to the display case when a panel in the display case panel hardware systems is moved from an opened to a closed position or from a closed position to an open position. Such moment arms can generate unacceptable bending moments on a mounting surface of the display case, where a moment is defined by force acting on a point multiplied by a perpendicular distance from the point to a feature. At the maximum value or other values of the moment, pressure applied to the panel in the display case panel hardware systems and/or pressure from the panel may cause one or more links of the display case panel hardware systems to bend and/or otherwise deform. Such bending and/or deformation can result in the display case panel hardware system failing to close or open properly and the greater the perpendicular distance the less force that is needed to cause bending and/or deformation.

The panel sliding hardware system 10, as described herein and shown in the FIGS. 1-15, may be used to move a given sized panel 19 (e.g., a display panel of glass or other material) to a cantilevered or third position 32 c (e.g., opened position) from a first position 32 a (e.g., a closed position), such that the panel 19 has a smaller maximum perpendicular distance from the display case 12 than a panel might have with existing hardware systems. In one example, such a limited maximum perpendicular distance from the display case 12 to the perpendicularly positioned panel 19, allows for the opening and closing of the panel 19 with a bending moment on the mounting surface of the display case 12 that is less than the bending moment generated by previous display case panel hardware systems for the same amount of applied force. In some instances, the third position 32 c may result in positioning the panel 19 to a side of the display case 12 approximately a distance equal to at least two-thirds (e.g., at least sixty-six percent (66%) or at least sixty-seven percent (67%)) of a width of the panel 19 or any other distances, as desired, to create an access space for accessing an interior 13 of the display case 12. In such instances and/or others, with the disclosed panel sliding hardware system 10, when compared to typical hardware systems, may create or have a maximum bending moment that is one-third the maximum bending moment created using previously known hardware systems, assuming the same forces are applied in each case.

The present system includes an adjustable panel sliding hardware system 10 for a sheet, panel, cover or door of perhaps an enclosure or display case for refrigeration, merchandise, and the like. The terms sheet, panel, cover and door may be substituted for each other in the present specification. Other equivalent terms may be used.

The present disclosure includes the panel sliding hardware system 10 for a display case 12, as shown in FIGS. 1-32, and/or a hardware system for any other apparatus or device having a movable panel or movable feature. In some instances, the panel sliding hardware system 10 may include a mounting bracket 46, a slider 15 having a slider plate 14 (e.g., a first end of the slider 15) and slider link 16 (e.g., a second end of the slider 15) (FIGS. 7 and 8), a hinge 18 (FIGS. 7 and 8), a panel clamp 20 (FIGS. 5-9), a panel wedge 22 (FIGS. 4-8), slide profiles 24 (FIGS. 6 and 8), bearings 26 (FIGS. 5 and 9), and/or one or more springs 28 (FIGS. 7 and 8). Alternatively, or in addition, the panel sliding hardware system 10 may include other features, as desired. Rearrangement of the components of the panel sliding hardware system 10 may change the mounting orientation of the panel 19 and/or the opening and closing directions of the panel 19.

The panel sliding hardware system 10 described herein may create a limited bending moment on the display case 12 by facilitating the pivoting of one end of a panel 19 with respect to the hinge 18 (e.g., a fixed hinge) connected to or unitarily formed with the mounting bracket 46 that may support the slide mechanism or slider 15, slide profiles 24, the panel 19, and any other associated hardware. In some instances, the rotation about the hinge 18 may be facilitated with the slider link 16 (e.g., a pivoting slide-link) and/or the spring(s) 28 (e.g., a pneumatic spring, gas spring, or other spring) connected to the mounting bracket 46.

The mounting bracket 46, as shown in FIG. 14, may be symmetric about a central longitudinal axis L-L of the mounting bracket 46 (e.g., a top half of the mounting bracket 46 may be substantially identical to a bottom half of the mounting bracket 46) and may provide an interface for mounting features of the panel sliding hardware system 10 to the display case 12 regardless of the orientation of the panel sliding hardware system 10 with respect to the display case 12. In some examples, the mounting bracket 46 may include lock edges 40, sliding slots 43 for locating and mounting the slider 15 (e.g., the first end 15 a of the slider 15 or the slider plate 14), one or more openings 45 for locating the hinge 18, locating the spring 28, and/or mounting or locating other features (e.g., threaded members or other features) of the panel sliding hardware system 10, where the openings may be located symmetrically above and below the axis L-L to allow panel sliding hardware system 10 to be oriented in different orientations with respect to the display case 12 and/or for other purposes.

In some instances, the openings 45 or other features of the mounting bracket 46 may receive one or more connectors or other features to facilitate locating and/or mounting features of the panel sliding hardware system 10 and/or to facilitate mounting the mounting bracket 46 to the display case 12. In one example, the mounting bracket 46 may include openings 45 that may received connectors for mounting the mounting bracket 46 to the display case 12, where the openings 45 may be positioned to the sides of where the slider plate 14 may be adjustably positioned when the panel 19 is in a second position 32 b or third position 32 a so as to provide support for any bending moment created by the panel 19 or forces acting on the panel 19. Similarly, other openings 45 in the mounting bracket 46 may be positioned to facilitate supporting loads on the panel sliding hardware system 10 regardless of the orientation thereof.

In some instances, the rotation about the hinge 18 may facilitate providing a clearance to allow the panel 19 to be adjusted and/or slid with respect to the display case 12 around adjacent display cases and/or panel sliding hardware systems 10 connected to adjacent display cases. In some examples, bearings 26 (e.g., plain bearings or other bearings) and/or symmetrical mount features of slide profiles 24 and/or the panel clamp 20 may support the panel 19 and allow the attached panel 19 to slide to side positions with respect to the display case 12. As discussed, such movement of the panel 19 with the panel sliding hardware system 10 may reduce a perpendicular distance of the panel 19 with respect to the display case 12 and thus, reduce the bending moment on the display case 12 when providing access to the interior 13 of the display case 12, as compared to typical display case sliding hardware systems.

Illustratively, the slider link 16 may provide support for vertical loads (e.g., a vertical direction may be substantially perpendicular to a sliding direction of the slider link 16), where the vertical loads on the panel sliding hardware system 10 may be slidingly adjusted or moved by the panel sliding hardware system 10 allowing only a single degree of freedom (e.g., in a sliding direction or more than a single degree freedom to account for manufacturing tolerances, etc.) for the slider plate 14, or two or more degrees of freedom for the slider plate 14, to which the slider link 16 may be pivotally attached. Vertical loads may include, but are not limited to, the mass of panel 19 or other loads adjustably connected to the slider link 16.

FIGS. 4A and 4B depict the ability of the panel sliding hardware system 10 to open from a first end 12 a of the display case 12 or open from a second end 12 b of the display case 12 and accordingly, substantially reverse a sliding direction of an attached panel 19. Symmetry in the slide profiles 24, the hinge 18, the mounting bracket 46, and/or other hardware features, may facilitate carrying a load from at least the panel 19 in either orientation. As shown in FIG. 4A, a first end 10 a of the panel sliding hardware system 10 is hingedly connected to, or hingedly connected to one or more features connected to, the first end 12 a of the display case 12 and the second end 10 b of the panel sliding hardware system 10 is opened a distance from the second end 12 b of the display case 12 and slid a distance to the side of the second end 12 b of the display case 12 and away from the first end 12 a of the display case 12. As shown in FIG. 4B, the panel sliding hardware system 10 has been oriented one hundred eighty degrees with respect to FIG. 4A and now the first end 10 a of the panel sliding hardware system 10 is hingedly connected to, or hingedly connected to one or more features connected to, the second end 12 b of the display case 12 and the second end 10 b of the panel sliding hardware system 10 is opened a distance from the first end 12 a of the display case 12 and slid a distance to the side of the first end 12 a of the display case 12 and away from the second end 12 b of the display case 12.

In operation and as depicted by the arrows shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the panel sliding hardware system 10 may be rotated about an axis adjacent the first end 10 a in a counter clockwise direction (as shown in FIG. 4A) or a clockwise direction (as shown in FIG. 4B) to adjust the second end 10 b of the panel sliding hardware system 10 away from the display case 12. Once the second end 10 b of the panel sliding hardware system 10 has been rotated away from the display case 12, the second end 10 b of the panel sliding hardware system 10 may be slid radially away from the axis of rotation by radially or linearly sliding or adjusting a second slide profile 24 b with respect to a first slide profile 24 a.

FIG. 5 depicts an end view of the first end 10 a of the panel sliding hardware system 10. The first end 10 a of the panel sliding hardware system 10 may include the hinge 18 configured to pivot the slide profiles 24 (not shown in FIG. 5) about axis A-A, along with the panel clamp 20 connected to slide profiles 24. The hinge 18 and/or the panel clamp 20 may connect to the slide profiles 24 with any type of connector or connecting technique. For example, the hinge 18 and/or the panel clamp 20 may connect to the slide profiles 24 with a female connector 34 (e.g., a fastening strip) configured to receive the male connector 36 and/or with other connectors or connecting features. In some instances, the female connector 34 and the male connector 36 may be threaded and the respective threads may be capable of engaging the threads of the other connector 34, 36.

In some instances, the hinge 18 may have a substantially planar end profile 44. The planar end profile 44 may facilitate using panel sliding hardware systems 10 on adjacent display cases 12, where the adjacent display cases 12 may be in close proximity to one another, may be unitarily formed (e.g., unitarily formed display cases 12 may be distinguished by having separate panels 19), and/or may abut one another. To facilitate connecting the panel sliding hardware system 10 to the display cases or a feature (e.g., mounting bracket 46 or other feature) connected to the display cases 12, the hinge 18 may include one or more connector insets 42. In one example, the connector insets 42 may allow a user to insert a screw driver or other tool between adjacent panel sliding hardware systems 10 to connect the hinge 18 to the display case 12 or a feature connected to the display case 12.

As shown in FIG. 5, the panel sliding hardware system 10 may include a lock connector 38 that may engage a lock edge 40 of, or connected to, the mounting bracket 46. In some instances, the lock connector 38 and lock edge 40 may communicate with one another to prevent the slide profiles 24 from separating from the mounting bracket 46 at unintended times. The lock edge 40 may be formed such that it extends an entire length or one or more portions of the entire length of the mounting bracket 46 and the lock connector 38 may be formed such that it extends an entire length or one or more portions of an entire length of the first slide profile 24 a. In some instances, the lock edge 40 may be unitarily formed with the mounting bracket 46 or, alternatively, connected to the mounting bracket 46 in any manner. The lock connector 38 may be affixed to, connected to, or otherwise extend from the first slide profile 24 a. In some instances, the lock connector 38 may be adjustably connected to the first slide profile 24 a with a connector 39 (e.g., a male threaded connector or other adjustable connector) inserted into a connector receive 41 in the slide profiles 24, where the connection may allow the lock connector 38 to be utilized in different orientations of the panel sliding hardware system 10.

The lock connector 38 may adjustably engage the lock edge 40. For example, the lock connector 38 may engage the lock edge 40 such that applying a force to a first end 38 a of the lock connector 38 in a first direction may cause the lock connector 38 to pivot about its connection or extension from the first slide profile 24 a and disengage the lock edge 40 by actuating a second end 38 b of the lock connector 38 in a second direction. In some cases, the first direction and the second direction may be in opposite or substantially opposite directions.

The lock connector 38 may be made from any material through any manufacturing process. For example, the lock connector 38 may be made from two or more materials and a co-extrusion process or other process to form the lock connectors from the two or more materials. In one example, a first material may be a rigid material and a second material may be a resilient material. Illustratively, the first material may be utilized at or about the first end 38 a of the lock connector 38 and the second material may be utilized at or about the second end 38 b of the lock connector 38 to form a rigid flex end or first end 38 a and a resilient locking end or second 38 b.

In some instances, the panel sliding hardware system 10 may include a cover plate 54, as shown in FIG. 5. The cover plate 54 may act to cover portions of the panel sliding hardware system 10 that may be exposed to the interior 13 of the display case 12. The cover plate 54 may be made of a stainless steel or other food-grade material. In some instances, the cover plate 54 may be connected to the slide profiles 24 or other features of the panel sliding hardware system 10 using the female connectors 34 and/or the male connectors 36 utilized to connect other features of the panel sliding hardware system 10. Alternatively, or in addition, the cover plate 54 may be connected to features of the panel sliding hardware system 10 or the display case 12 with any type of connector or connecting technique, as desired.

FIGS. 6 and 7 depict a second end 10 b of the panel sliding hardware system 10 and show the second end 15 b of the slider 15 or the slider link 16 connected to the slider plate 14 and a second end portion of the first slide profile 24 a, where the second end 15 b of the slider 15 or the slider link 16 forms a connection axis B-B with the second end portion of the first slide profile 24 a or a feature extending therefrom. In some instances, the slider link 16 may move (e.g., pivot, rotate, or move in any other manner) about a connection axis between the slider plate 14 and the slider link 16. The slider link 16 may facilitate movement of the slide profiles 24 away from the display case 12, for example, by rotating the first slide profile 24 a and the second slide profile 24 b with respect to the mounting bracket 46 and/or display case 12 (e.g., via the hinge 18). With such rotation of the slide profiles 24, the slider plate 14 in a sliding engagement with the mounting bracket 46 may move with respect to the mounting bracket 46.

Once the lock connect 38 has been released from engagement with the lock edge 40, the slide profiles 24 may be adjusted away from the display case 12 such that the slider plate 14 slides along the mounting bracket 46 to a stop or to a distance of the spring 28, the slider link 16 pivots about the slider plate 14, and the slide profiles 24 pivot about the slider link 16 to adjust the slide profiles 24 and the panel 19 away from the display case 12. The first slide profile 24 a may be adjusted a maximum of a perpendicular distance from the display case, where the perpendicular distance depends on the length of the slider link 16. In some cases, the length of the slider link 16 and thus, the perpendicular distance, may be determined so as to provide a clearance and allow the panel 19 be slid in front of an adjacent display case 12 utilizing the panel sliding hardware system 10 or any other hardware system. As discussed above, it is desirable to have small perpendicular distances of the panel 19 with respect to the display case 12 and as a result, it is desired to have a perpendicular distance only large enough to provide clearance for allowing the panel 19 to be slid in front of adjacent display cases 12.

The first end 15 a of the slider 15 or the slider plate 14, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, may engage or connect with the mounting bracket 46 connected to the display case 12 in any manner. For example, the slider plate 14 may engage or connect with the mounting bracket 46 in a sliding engagement that allows the slider plate 14 to be slidingly adjusted with respect to the mounting bracket 46.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, slider link 16 may be in communication with and/or connected to a first end 14 a of the slider plate 14 and a second end 28 b of a spring 28 may be in communication with and/or connected to a second end 14 b of the slider plate 14 with a first end 28 a of the spring 28 in communication with and/or connected to the mounting bracket 46. For example, the slider link 16 may connect to or may be attached to the slider plate 14 such that the slider link 16 rotates about the connection and the spring 28 may connect to the slider plate 14 such that the second end 28 b of the spring 28 may adjust in-line or parallel to a plane or axis of the slider plate 14 and/or the first end 28 a of the spring 28. Although the connections between the slider plate 14, the slider link 16, and the spring 28 have been described in a particular manner, it is contemplated that the slider plate 14, the slider link 16, and the spring 28 may be connected in any other manner that allows movement of the slider plate 14 in one axis or plane, allows the slider link 16 to pivot with respect to the slider plate 14, and allows the spring 28 to adjust in a plane of movement of the slider plate 14 and/or parallel to a plane of movement of the slider plate 14. Further, in instances where the spring 28 is connected to the slider plate 14 (e.g., at the second end 14 b of the slider plate 14), the spring 28 may provide a bias force encouraging separation between the panel 19 and the display case 12.

As shown in FIG. 6, the panel clamp 20 may connect with (e.g., adjustably connect) attach to, be formed integrally with, and/or otherwise be in communication with the slide profiles 24 (e.g., the second slide profile 24 b). For example, the one or more male connectors 36 may be inserted through the second slide profile 24 b and the panel clamp 20 and each male connector 36 may be received by a female connector 34, where the female connector 34 may be situated within an opening 48 in the panel clamp 20 or at any other portion of the panel sliding hardware system 10. In some cases, opening 48 in the panel clamp may extend an entire length or one or more portions of the entire length of the panel clamp 20 and may be accessible from an exterior of the panel sliding hardware system 10. In some instances, the female connector 34 may be tightened or loosened to facilitate reception of panels 19 with different panel thicknesses and/or the adjustment of the positioning of the panel 19, including through adjustment of the panel clamp 20 about pivot point 21.

Illustratively, the connectors 34 and/or 36 may be tightened until the panel clamp 20 abuts the second slide profile 24 b to apply a pinching or pressure fit on the panel 19 between the panel wedge 22 and the panel clamp 20 or the connectors 34, 36 may be tightened to create a pinching or pressure fit on the panel 19 between the second slide profile 24 b, the panel wedge 22 and/or the panel clamp 20. In one example, the female connector 34 may be tightened to apply a pressure fit to the panel 19 between the panel clamp 20 (and/or the panel wedge 22) and the second slide profile 24 b and the female connector 34 may be loosened to release the pressure fit and allow the positioning of the panel 19 to be adjusted.

Panel 19 may be positioned in one or more positions within the panel clamp 20 and the second slide profile 24 b. In some instances the panel 19 may be positioned within the panel sliding hardware system in a single configuration, in two or more configurations, in three or more configurations, in four or more configurations, in five or more configurations, or other amount of configurations. For example, arranging the panel wedge 22 in different positions within the panel clamp 20, the panel 19 may be arranged in at least four different positions. In some instances, panels 19 having varying profiles may be used in different panel arrangements, as desired.

In some instances, the panel wedge 22 may be adjusted to two or more positions to position the panel 19 in various orientations, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. For example, a first panel 19 configuration, as shown in FIG. 10A, may include positioning the panel wedge 22 between the panel 19 and the panel clamp 20, such that the panel 19 may be positioned between the panel wedge 22 and the second slide profile 24 b (not shown in FIG. 10A) to apply a pressure fit to the panel 19 therebetween. In a second panel 19 configuration, as shown in FIG. 10B, the panel wedge 22 may be positioned between the panel 19 and the second slide profile 24 b (not shown in FIG. 10B), such that the panel 19 may be positioned between the panel wedge 22 and the panel clamp 20 to apply a pressure fit to the panel 19 therebetween. Where the first and second panel 19 configurations utilize a substantially flat panel 19, a third and a fourth panel 19 configurations may utilize the same or substantially the same second slide profile 24 b, the panel wedge 22, and the panel clamp 20 configurations, but with a curved panel 19 (e.g., a curved panel 19 having a radius of curvature forty inches or other radius of curvature, as desired) rather than a flat panel 19.

The panel wedge 22 may take on any shape, as desired. In one example, the panel wedge 22 may be a right angle triangle, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. In the example and other examples, rearrangement of the panel wedge 22 may change the panel 19 from the panel mounting angle A depicted in FIG. 10A to the panel mounting angle and A′ depicted in FIG. 10B, where the panel mounting angles A and A′ may differ by approximately ten (10) degrees. In some instances, the panel clamp 20 may have a first panel mounting surface 52 for mounting the panel 19 at the panel mounting angle A and a second panel mounting surface 52′ for mounting the panel 19 at the panel mounting angle A′. It is contemplated that panel wedge 22 and/or the panel mounting surfaces 52 and 52′ may be configured such that the rearrangement of the panel wedge 22 about the panel mounting surfaces 52 and 52′ may result in changes of the panel mounting angle by ten (10) degrees, more than ten (10) degrees, or less than ten (10) degrees, as desired.

Illustratively, the first slide profile 24 a and the second slide profile 24 b may be configured to engage one another and the first slide profile 24 a may have a first end portion and a second end portion with the first end portion connected to the mounting bracket 46 (e.g., directly or through any other feature such as the hinge 18), as shown in the Figures. In some instances, the slide profiles 24 may include slide rails 25, as shown in FIG. 13. The slide rails 25 may slidingly engage one another and allow the second slide profile 24 b to be slidingly positioned with respect to the first slide profile 24 a.

Each of the slide profiles 24 may be symmetric, identical and/or substantially identical (e.g., substantially identical may be mean identical except for manufacturing tolerances). In one example, each of the slide profiles 24 may have identical or substantially identical cross-sections. Each slide profile 24 may include a first slide rail 25 a (e.g., a first connecting feature or a male slide rail) and a second slide rail 25 b (e.g., a second connecting feature or a female slide rail), where the first slide rail 25 a of the first slide profile 24 a may be received by or otherwise engaged with the second slide rail 25 b of the second slide profile 24 b and the first slide rail 25 a of the second slide profile 24 b may be received by or otherwise engaged with the second slide rail 25 b of the first slide profile 24 a.

The slide profiles 24 may be formed in any manner. In one example, the one or more of the slide profiles 24 may be extruded. In some instances, the first slide profile 24 a and the second slide profile 24 b may be formed from the same extrusion mold or two or more substantially identical molds. Extruding the first slide profile 24 a, the second slide profile 24 b, and/or other slide profiles 24 from the same extrusion mold may ensure each part has similar manufacturing tolerance to better allow the slide profiles 24 to mate with one another. Alternatively, or in addition, one or more of the slide profiles 24 may be formed from other forming processes using a mold or other feature to form the slide profiles 24, as desired. Illustratively, features of the slide profiles 24 may reduce manufacturing allowances for inherent manufacturing tolerances due to the slide profiles 24 being extruded from the same or substantially identical molds.

To facilitate movement between the first slide profile 24 a and the second slide profile 24 b, a multiple bearing geometry may be utilized to support and/or slide the panel 19 from an initial or closed position (e.g., the first position 32 a, see FIG. 2A) to a cantilevered position (e.g., the second position 32 b, see FIG. 2B, and the third position 32 c, see FIG. 2C), where each slide rail 25 of each slide profile 24 may include one or more bearing 26. In some instances, the bearings 26 may be connected to one or more of (e.g., each of) the slide rails 25 of the first slide profile 24 a at the first end 10 a of the panel sliding hardware system 10 and a bearing 26 may be connected to one or more of (e.g., each of) the slide rails 25 of the second slide profile 24 b at the second end 10 b of the panel sliding hardware system 10. The bearings 26 may be positioned between the slide profiles 24 to allow for space between the slide rails 25 to promote efficient sliding therebetween and allow for both external and/or male sliding surfaces and internal and/or female slide surfaces along a first slide rail 25 a and a second slide rail 25 b of the slide profiles 24.

In some instances, the space between the slide rails 25 may be concentric about one or more of the first slide rail 25 a and the second slide rail 25 b. The space between the slide rails 25 may provide a calculated load caring capability as the slide profiles 24 move into a cantilevered or open position. Accordingly, the thickness of the bearings 26 may be adjusted, as desired, for particular loads on the panel sliding hardware system 10.

The bearings 26 may be connected to the slide profiles 24 in any manner. As shown in FIG. 9, a bearing 26 may be connected to a slide rail 25 (e.g., a first slide rail 25 a or a second slide rail 25 b) with a removable and/or threaded connector 27 inserted through an opening 50 in the bearing 26 and into or through the slide rail 25. In some examples, gap 53 may be formed between the threaded connector 27 and a side of the opening 50 in the bearing 26, as shown in FIG. 9, to allow for three degrees of freedom and allow for geometric tolerance absorption facilitating movement (e.g., hand movement, or other movement) of the panel 19. The gap 53 may allow the bearings 26 to shift or move relative to the slide rails (e.g., their mounting surface) without moving out of position or hindering movement of the panel 19. In one example, to ensure the bearings 26 do not release from the slide rails 25, the threaded connector 27 may have a tapered end 29 that may prevent the bearing 26 from separating from the slide rail 25.

Illustratively, the bearings 26 may be made from any material, as desired. In some examples, including examples where the panel sliding hardware system 10 may be used in the food industry or other industries, the bearings 26 may be made from a non-hygroscopic material, a non-nylon material, polymeric material, a hydrophobic material, and/or any other material, as desired.

As shown in FIGS. 11-12B, the panel sliding hardware system 10 may include a safety stop mechanism 60 that, in some instances, may facilitate preventing the panel sliding hardware system from contacting adjacent hardware systems and/or display cases, preventing user injuries from unintended closing of the panel 19, and/or preventing damage to the panel sliding hardware systems 10 or the panel 19 due to unintended closing of the panel 19. The stop mechanism 60 may include a stop member 62 having a first end 62 a that may be positioned adjacent the slider plate 14, a second end 62 b that may be positioned adjacent the first slide profile 24 a and may interact with one or more sliding portions (e.g., the second slide profile 24 b) of the panel sliding hardware system 10, and, optionally, an arm 63 or other limit feature positioned between the first end 62 a and the second end 62 b of the stop member 62. In some instances, the stop member 62 may pivot about a stop pivot 64 located between the first end 62 a and the second 62 b of the stop member 62.

In operation, a spring 65 or other mechanism may bias the stop member 62 in a stop position, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12A, where the first end 62 a may releasably abut or engage the slider plate 14 (e.g., the second end 14 b of the slider plate 14) and, optionally, the arm 63 releasably abuts or engages the mounting bracket 46 or other feature connected to the mounting bracket 46 when the second slide profile 24 b has been slid to an open position (e.g., the third position 32 c) to prevent the slide profiles 24 from moving to a closed position (e.g., the a first position 32 a). When the second slide profile 24 b and the panel 19 have been slid toward the hinge 18 and the second slide profile 24 b interacts with or engages the second end 62 b of the stop member 62 adjacent and/or extending through an opening 23 in the first slide profile 24 a, the stop member 62 may pivot about the stop pivot 64 and the first end 62 a of the stop member 62 may act against the bias force and disengage, release, or otherwise separate from the slider plate 14 to allow the slider plate 14 to adjust (e.g., slidingly adjust or adjust in any other manner) with respect to the mounting bracket 46 and allow the slide profiles 24 move to a closed position (e.g., the first position 32 a). Alternatively, or in addition, the stop mechanism 60 may be actuated in other manners that may or may not include a bias force, but facilitate unintended closing of the panel 19 with respect to the display case

In operation, the panel sliding hardware system 10 may be used in a method 100 of positioning the panel 19 used with the display case 12 between a closed position and an opened position, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 15. The method 100 may include adjusting 102 the panel 19 about a rotating axis formed at a connection point between the hinge 18 and the slide profiles 24 (e.g., where the slide profiles 24 at least partially form a sliding panel mount) connected to panel 19. Once the panel 19 has been adjusted about the rotating axis, the method 100 may include sliding 104 the panel radially (e.g., in a linear direction) away from the rotating axis. In some instances, the adjusting 102 the panel 19 about the rotating axis may include adjusting (e.g., rotating) the first slide profile 24 a and the second slide profile 24 b about the rotating axis. Further, sliding 104 the panel 19 radially away from the rotating axis may include moving (e.g., sliding, etc.) the second slide profile 24 b in a linear direction with respect to the first slide profile 24 a toward the rotating axis to the opened position.

Illustratively, the position of the panel 19 may be adjusted from the opened position to the closed position by reversing method 100. For example, the panel 19 may be moved radially toward the rotating axis by moving the second slide profile 24 b in a linear direction with respect to the first slide profile 24 a toward the rotating axis. Once the panel 19 has been moved toward rotating axis, the first slide profile 24 a and the second slide profile 24 b may be adjusted (e.g., rotated) about the rotating axis toward the closed position.

Although method 100 has been described in a particular order and detail, it is contemplated that the method 100 may include further intermediary steps and the steps of the method 100 may be in other orders, as desired.

In the present specification, some of the matter may be of a hypothetical or prophetic nature although stated in another manner or tense.

Although the present system has been described with respect to at least one illustrative example, many variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. It is therefore the intention that the appended claims be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art to include all such variations and modifications. Accordingly, departure in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure as described in the appended claims. 

1. A panel sliding hardware system for use with a display case, comprising: a mounting bracket capable of connecting to a display case; a first slide profile having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion of the first slide profile is connected to the mounting bracket; a second slide profile engaging the first slide profile; a slider having a first end engaged with the mounting bracket and a second end forming a connection axis with the second end portion of the first slide profile; and wherein the first slide profile is capable of being rotationally adjusted with respect to the mounting bracket and the second slide profile is capable of being rotationally and linearly adjusted with respect to the mounting bracket.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein: the slider has a first portion and a second portion, the second portion of the slider is capable of moving about a connection axis between the first portion and the second portion; the first portion is in a sliding engagement with the mounting bracket; and the second portion is connected to the first slide profile and is capable of moving about the connection axis between slider the first slide profile.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second portion of the slider is a slider link.
 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a spring having a first end connected to the mounting bracket and a second end connected to the slider.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the second end of the spring is linearly adjustable with respect to the first end of the spring.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein: the first slide profile has a first connecting feature and a second connecting feature; the second slide profile has a first connecting feature and a second connecting feature; the first connecting feature of the second slide profile engages the second connecting feature of the first slide profile; and the second connecting feature of the second slide profile engages the first connecting feature of the first slide profile.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first slide profile and the second slide profile have a substantially identical cross-section along their respective lengths.
 8. The system of claim 6, further comprising: a bearing connected to one or more of the connecting features of the first slide profile; and a bearing connected to one or more of the connecting features of the second slide profile.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first slide profile and the second slide profile are made from one of a single mold and two or more substantially identical molds.
 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a panel clamp adjustably connected to the second slide profile.
 11. The system of claim 10, further comprising: a display panel; a wedge; and wherein the wedge is capable of being positioned in two or more positions within the panel clamp to adjust a position of the display panel.
 12. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a safety stop having a first end and a second; and wherein: the first end of the safety stop releasably abuts the slider; the second end of the safety stop is engaged to release the first end of the safety stop from the slider when the second slide profile is in a first position; and the second end of the safety stop is disengaged to engage the first end of the safety stop from the slider when the second slide profile is in a second position.
 13. A display case panel mounting system, comprising: a mounting bracket capable of connecting to a display case; a first slide profile having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first slide profile adjustably connected to the mounting bracket; a second slide profile engaging the first slide profile; a slider having a first end engaged with the mounting bracket and a second end connected to the second end portion of the second slide profile; and wherein: the first slide profile has a first connecting feature and a second connecting feature; the second slide profile has a first connecting feature engaging the second connecting feature of the first slide profile; and the second slide profile has a second connecting feature engaging the first connecting feature of the first slide profile.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first slide profile is capable of being rotationally adjusted with respect to the mounting bracket and the second slide profile is capable of being rotationally adjusted with respect to the mounting bracket and linearly adjusted with respect to the first slide profile.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first slide profile and the second slide profile are made from one of a single mold and two or more substantially similar molds.
 16. The system of claim 13, further comprising: a panel clamp connected to the second slide profile; a wedge adjustably positioned within the panel clamp; and a panel adjustably positioned in one of two or more positions within the panel clamp.
 17. The system of claim 13, further comprising: a spring having a first portion and second portion adjustable with respect to the first portion; wherein: the first portion of the spring is connected to the mounting bracket; and the second portion of the spring is connected to the slider.
 18. The system of claim 13, wherein the first connecting features are male connecting features and the second connecting features are female connecting features that receive the male connecting features in a sliding and adjustable manner.
 19. A method of positioning a panel used with a display case between a closed position and an opened position, the method comprising: adjusting a panel about a rotating axis formed at a connection point between a hinge and a sliding panel mount connected to the panel; and sliding the panel in a linear direction away from the rotating axis.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein: the sliding panel mount has a first slide profile and a second slide profile; adjusting the panel about a rotating axis includes adjusting the first slide profile and the second slide profile about the rotating axis; and sliding the panel in a linear direction includes sliding the second slide profile in a linear direction with respect to the first slide profile. 